Better CDP or network player?

Thanks for the post.................Yeah, I do enjoy handling the media, reading the albums notes, etc.. Fortunately......or not :)........... I don't have a massive media collection, so storage isn't much of a problem. Recently built a rack for my gear that for all intents and purposes resembles and is about the size of, a coffee table with a bottom shelf. It's low, solid, stable and comfortably houses my equipment.......Not the last word in audio furniture, but I like it.

Sounds like we're around the same age..........."old folks" LOL

I'm not against any of the "new and improved" ways of doing audio. I'm sure it all works just fine once you get everything set up.........From a purely sound quality perspective, I think media wise we've gone about as far as we can. Newer doesn't necessarily sound better, it's just a different way getting the same end result. From there it just depends on your budget, better gear will probably sound better until you reach the point where you're paying more for "eye candy" than sound quality..................Kind of like driving a BMW vs a Honda to the mall. They'll both get you there in the same amount of time, but your friends will be more impressed with the B'mer!!

May explore the down load path over the Winter, when it's cold and I get bored, but for now I'm happy doing it the "old"  way. :)

If you enjoy handling physical media- which I did - and have the space to keep your TT (and outboard phono stage if you have one), lps and cds, stay the course. I ripped my music on to a hard drive in the past year and sold off media and front end gear for downsizing/small footprint system. When you are ready, know the transition takes some time for the music ripping, but is simple. I now also have streaming capability, which I have only done with internet radio. I’ll likely choose the best fit for me among Spotify, Qobuz and Tidal next year when I retire. My music is red book flac, which sounds great. I’ve no interest in hi res, MQA or the future format “advances”. The new technologies will be there any time you are ready to try.

Thanks psyop...............As mentioned, this will be my third Marantz machine and I've been very happy with them...........In it's day my ancient CD 63 was well reviewed..and still works after maybe 20 years, fussy, but playable.

The SACD 8001, my current go-to machine has served me well for 10-12 years, but it too is beginning to get fussy. It's old, so I'm OK with that..............

The S14s1 is from their reference line, so I expect that it will be a step up in SQ and it will likely be my last stand alone player.

I'm still interested in a separate DAC  at some point, but I'll have to wait until I've had the S14s1 a while. Once it's up an running, perhaps I won't feel the need to go further.

I'm likely older than many here, so I've lived through the progression in audio from console radio/record players, 8 tracks, cassette, high end turntables, CD and now digital/web based music. It's been an interesting journey. 

 Much of the progress over the decades has been more about convenience and portability than improved SQ.............I'm sure it's nice to keep a thousand of your favorite tunes on you phone in your back pocket or purse. I don't do it, but it's a great way to carry your music with you.

As far as SQ, I smile every time I hear the phrase, "it almost sounds analog". I have a nice TT rig, certainly not "uber", but nice. I have yet to hear anything from my CD rigs that is any better. More convenient, of course, but better sounding?.....not really. Your experience may be different, but that's been mine.

I suspect that the latest, greatest thing, hi-rez, MQ, streaming, computer based audio, etc. is much the same. New and different ways of doing the same thing. Does it sound better? I think that's largely system dependent and debatable, depending on who you ask. I have yet to jump into that pool, so I have no opinion on it.

Audio is fun, with many ways to go. Do what you can afford and enjoy what makes you happy..............It is after all, just a hobby :)

Good decision. I think it is best to enjoy audio the way “we ourselves” do so. I have two CD players in two systems and although I have streaming, I would not give them up. Like you I like the KISS factor of them. Easier to setup and enjoy than a turntable or streaming...There will always be people here and there who will say you should have done this or should have bought that. In the end you are the one to enjoy your system. BTW I have had 5 Marantz pieces and ALL of them have been great. Two older receivers, two SACD players and one amp. They make very fine equipment.

Hi Graber

Did look at other CDP options including the Bryston stuff..............all my electronics are Bryston, BTW, except CDP and speakers........ They offer an optical player, essentially a transport, which I was hoping to pair with the Yggdrasil Dac. Unfortunately, I called them and it only works with THEIR BDP players, which I found odd and disconcerting. I could still use it with any DAC, but it meant another pricey piece of kit in between, so I nixed that idea. Their CDP gets great reviews, but it's a bit out of my range, $$$

Looked for other transport options, but sadly, like CDP's they seem to be getting few and far between and again, either lower level or ridiculous $$$. I don't have unlimited funds, so money is a factor. What I wanted is a high level machine, or machines, that I can afford and be happy with for a few years.

I got a lot of good advice and suggestions on the whole streaming, downloading, programming, storage, external DAC, etc. In the end it just seemed to be a lot more trouble than I wanted to fool with. I'm sure it works just fine, but I'd rather listen to my gear, than play with it.......

..I took the simple way out. New CDP, high end...........probably not the BEST out there, but a couple of levels above what I have now, good warranty and good track record based on my own experience with Marantz gear.

Really wanted to give that Schiit DAC a whirl and perhaps down the road I will. Use the 14s1 as a transport to the Schiit and run it from a laptop, but not this time around.

There are a lot of ways to do audio, but I'm a K.I.S.S., plug N play guy. The new and improved way of doing audio is via computer/web based tech...........I'm fine with that, but whether or not it's audibly  better may be debatable. A number of blogs and reviews I read weren't particularly convincing on that aspect. No personal experience with it, so I have no opinion either way.

No, the Marantz box doesn't do streaming, but I don't either, so that's OK, at least for the moment. One reviewer compared it sonically to the NA11s1 network player, which Stereophile  rated as A+...........that's close enough to audio nirvana for me.

Hundreds of millions of CD's out there, maybe billions,
so whether that format goes away or not, the music will be available for a long time, longer than I need to worry about :)

To each his own.

Well its kind of tough to comment Shadowcat,
b/c you already purchased the Marantz, and i
dont really want to make you second guess your purchase.

But I would say this: if you do mostly red book CDs right now,
then keep doing redbook. there are a log of good CDPs out there right now,
especially high-end used CD/DVD players that are engineered exactly toward
extracting every last once of musicality, detail, and dynamics from the 16/44.

But I did not see in the post, does the Marantz CDP have Network streaming too?

Of course, you could do CD AND streaming e.g. Tidal and other higher quality music Apps for more convenience

PS............Once it's set up and running I'll post my impressions for anyone who may be in the market for their LAST player.